Opiuo Interview

Opiuo has taken the music world by storm with his funkadelic hip-hop stylings, which has seen him travel the world twice over to perform at events like Coachella and Glastonbury. The award-winning Kiwi has just dropped an EP with New Zealand’s other favourite sons, drum and bass lords, Shapeshifter, and together they’ve created one of the most infectious EPs to come out of the southern hemisphere this year. This comes just in time for Opiuo’s performance with his live band on New Year’s Day at Let Them Eat Cake in Melbourne. We caught up with Opiuo for a quick chat…

You recently dropped your ‘Slug A Bug’ EP with Shapeshifter. How did that collaboration come about? Did you work with Shapeshifter in the studio?
We’d been in contact for a couple of years with the idea that we should do something. Then when the time was right they asked me over to their Auckland studio this past winter. We spent a week together and made the basis to the EP you hear today. They’re amazing inspiring humans so it was a real pleasure to hang out and make some music.

When it comes to your solo work as Opiuo and The Opiuo Band, how much crossover is there?
Originally there wasn’t much, I was just writing the music and then getting musicians in to play exactly what I wanted. Now we are more established as a real band, I’ve been including all of them in some way in the recording process, even some of the writing process as well. I really want both projects to remain individual, but have some real crossover potential as well. They’ll always be two totally different experiences live, while maintaining what’s true to Opiuo: bass, funk, fun, party.

Would you play the new EP with Shapeshifter with your band and try and adapt it to a live performance or do you keep those two entities separate?
Absolutely. We’ve already worked out how to adapt a lot of it. The music is far too much party to be left behind. And live – it’s gonna be fun.

Speaking of The Opiuo Band, you guys are going to be gearing up to play Let Them Eat Cake on New Year’s Day. What can we expect from you? New stuff? Old stuff? Surprises?
Plenty of new, plenty of classics, some definite surprises in the works already. It’s one of the sets we’re all looking forward to the most. I can’t wait to bust what we got.

Is there anyone on the line-up you’re looking forward to mingling with backstage? Or even just checking out on the day?
Slum Village are old heroes of mine so I’m stoked about that. I think we might even play the same stage as them (one for the books). I have so many local friends that are dropping tunes too so it’s going to be great to catch up with all of them again! Honestly, the Melbourne music scene is so rich and I often enjoy some of the local talent the most!

Earlier on in the year you embarked on a national tour with the band and then a North American tour. How were you guys received overseas? How did touring as a band compare to touring as a solo artist?
It’s still to this day been my most favourite, wild, fucked-up, crazy adventure of my life yet. It was hard work, but it all paid off. We were far better received than I’d ever dreamed. America has so much musical history, and we felt like we were a part of it. We learnt a lot about ourselves and how to do what we wanna do to perfection. I’m so proud we did it and nailed it. Especially having some of my best friends with me on the road, it’s far more fun partying with people you know!

2015 has been a really exciting year for The Opiuo Band – what do you have planned for 2016 so far? Production as a band? More solo stuff?
More of everything. It’s all about the constant challenge and evolution. Definitely a new Opiuo release, more band, more solo, more bass, more threesome – ha! But serious, it feels so good to be doing what I do, sharing music & good times, and I wanna thank all the people for making it possible!

Opiuo x Shapeshifter ‘Slug a Bug’ EP is available now from iTunes. Catch The Opiuo Band on NYD alongside Jon Hopkins, Four Tet, Daniel Avery and more, at Let Them Eat Cake in Werribee Mansion, Melbourne. Shapeshifter will perform at Northern Bass NYD Festival in NZ.

Get Tickets To Let Them Eat Cake 2016